Relay for Life West Bank has special meaning for Marrero woman

Debbie Zatarain of Marrero was used to helping her sister-in-law Fran Landry, who works at West Jefferson Medical Center, with the Relay for Life West Bank.

MICHAEL DeMOCKER / The Times-Picayune Participants in the second-line umbrella contest take a turn around the dance floor during the lighting ceremony at the annual West Bank Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society in 2009. This year's event starts Saturday at 3 p.m.

Zatarain would bake goodies for fundraising bake sales and encourage co-workers to attend Relay events, all for the cause of helping cancer patients and survivors.

Now, Zatarain is participating in the Relay in a different way: as a survivor of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells.

Her message to cancer patients, she said, is to “be very positive. You have to have that kind of attitude.”

Relay for Life West Bank will be at Mel Ott Park on Belle Chasse Highway in Gretna. It starts Saturday at 3 p.m. and lasts until the wee hours of 3 a.m. There’s still time for individuals and teams of walkers to register; call Landry, event co-chair, at 504.349.6029 or 504.421.1591 or Zatarain at 504.212.2369 or 504.421.1590, or visit relayforlife.org/westbank. Individual registration is $10, but is free for cancer survivors, who will be honored at the relay with the opening lap around the track reserved just for them, and a hospitality tent with food and drinks.

Zatarain, 58, who works in human resources at Zatarain’s in Gretna (she’s a distant relation to the seasoning company Zatarains), had attended a wellness fair at work in April 2008 when all sorts of red flags went up: her blood pressure was high, her cholesterol was high -- “There were 32 things wrong,’’ she said.

She had a persistent lump on her face, and she was fatigued, but she thought it was from caring for her sickly mother.

She went to the doctor, who thought it was her thyroid. She eventually went to a kidney specialist, and after treating her for several months, sent her for a kidney biopsy in April 2009.

“He said, ‘I think you have multiple myeloma,’’’ Zatarain said.

Her thought was “It can’t be.’’

Zatarain underwent chemotherapy from June through December 2009 at West Jefferson hospital. Last summer, she went to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for a stem cell transplant, staying with her daughter in a hotel from Memorial Day to July 23, 2010. The generosity of family and co-workers, who held fundraisers, helped with expenses.

She just recently returned to the office after working at home through March. “My boss is wonderful,’’ she said of Zatarain’s human resource manager Cheryl Griglione.

Now, Zatarain goes back to MD Anderson every three months for a checkup, and “so far, so good.’’ In fact, the morning the Relay is finished, she is heading back to Houston for her checkup.

That sounds like an exhausting schedule, but Zatarain said attending the Relay is “important to help people who don’t have insurance and family support’’ as she does. “It’s so important to my heart now.”

Even those who don’t want to walk can come to the Relay and purchase concessions and provide support in other ways, all of which benefits cancer research and patient support.

“Everything we raise here stays local,’’ Landry said. One beneficiary is Hope Lodge on River Road, which provides free lodging for cancer patients coming from out of town who are being treated at New Orleans area hospitals.

Landry, who got involved with Relay about 15 years ago after her father died from cancer, said Zatarain’s diagnosis “just solidified the fact that yes, I’m going to continue to participate.’’

Major sponsors of the Relay are Folgers and West Jefferson Hospital Foundation. Landry’s co-chair is Brian Heiden, branch manager of Omni Bank in Gretna, and Judy Lazzara, a nurse in the education department at West Jefferson hopsital, is event chair.

Zatarain encouraged survivors to participate in the Relay and for patients to think positively.

“Do not give up. You can’t.”

Relay for Life West Bank

Mel Ott Park, Gretna

Schedule of Events

Saturday

3 p.m.: Main stage, opening ceremony

4 p.m.: Volleyball Challenge

5 to 6 p.m.: Main stage, Louisiana Kids

6 to 9 p.m.: Relay Idol and Karaoke

9 p.m.: Luminaria lighting

9:30 p.m.: Pie-throwing contest

10:30 to 11:30 p.m.: Mike Liuzza band

11 p.m.: Womanless Beauty Contest

Late-night events will be announced.

Melinda Morris can be reached at mmorris@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3782.